No Italy this time, the non Brit and Irish side that lift my world cup heart.

Seb Larsson with Sweden and Wahbi Kazhri of Tunisia along with Brian Oviedo (where the fuck did Brian come from?) will have to be my international hopes.Have more of an Ingerland interest with the Jordans Henderson and Pickford

I'm sure I'll be besotted once it kicks off, have watched every game I have been able to since 1974, has just felt different this time. England are for once going into a tournament without the tired old shoe ins clogging things up and there is an air of unpredictability which is a good thing. Being an excited fool is at the heart of life's best moments

Ha! Not gone that far this time. We usually do a predictor game in the family and my heart sang when my youngest who is 17 and grumpy about everything said "When are you sorting out the score predictor?". I've 10 more days of 51

I've got Spain in the sweep in the German school that I was working in this week. Off on a walking holiday on Sunday and we've rearranged the eating arangements to fit around the football - even for those not interested....

Is this your day of reckoning then? Croatia are England's first tough opponents, Belgium game doesn't count and Sweden looked like a side out of ideas). Croatia have huffed and puffed their way but have come through testing games. England have done what they often don't in tournaments - beaten the teams they should beat.

This has been a very entertaining World Cup, pleased I am on holiday the weekend after the final, the withdrawal symptoms have already started.